, 1887-09-13

ally she would unbend 80 far as to allow
that gentleman to assist in her investiga-
ions into the fora of the region of the
country in which they were.
Can you guess what a revelation this
sweet, tantalizing girl was to a young
man who had never known a woman's
lover Day after day to watch her merry
petting of those big brothers, and then to
recall his lonely childhood and youth. Is
not the fate of this poor Val easily sur
miSed2
Tramping alone by the river side, Val
at last discovers and acknowledges to
himself the cause of the vague wretched-
ness of the past Observation-Disclosures
with a sickening realization hat his hap
piness for life is in the hands of a girl
who has only an unreasoning hatred, or
at best a supreme Indifference, to give
him; and he grinds his boot heel into the
soft turf as he goes slowly towards the
camp.
A sudden turn around a clump of fringe
hung birches, and Mr.. Graham beholds a
spectacle which drives away from him
all thoughts of his own troubles.
Upon a gnarly old tree, leaning far out
over the river, sits Miss Bess, plainly dis
consulate. In the pool below her hat is
slowly sailing around like a gondola of
new design. AT the sound of footsteps
she raises her head, but as her eyes meet
his the welcoming CLEAN CT hope in them
gives way to a flash of ire, and she says
petulantly:
'Oh, L hoped you were S~teenie."
I'm sorry" he says gently, ''but
Steenie would not help you more gladly
than 1'would were it in my power"
After a pause, during which the girls
tears puzzled him, he continued quietly:
LET us go home to the boys and our
camp fire. 1t is getting late. You will
take cold there; and you nave lost your
hat too"
MOT at ALL" returns Bess. 81 am
only leaving it there till 1 come down. |
am waiting for the sunset, but you need
not wait too"
"But 1 should like to-"
A long pause ensues. Miss Fleming
apparently gives rapt attention to some
soft, fluffy little clouds flushed to a rose
pink by h setting sun. Mr.. Graham as
intently gives his whole mind, aided by
his good right arm, to the recovery of the
truant hat, which eludes his impromptu
fishing pole with an agility which seems
to prove it endowed with the spirit of its
owner.
Il wish you would come down now"
he breaks forth, landing as he speaks his
dripping and somewhat dilapidated prize.
"You don't look comfortable up there"
"Well, I'm not, - she replied, with I'M
looked for energy and a hysterical ming
ling of tears and laughter. THE branch
that helped me up here broke off, and
then floated down the river. Every time
| have tried to get down 1 have nearly
pitched into the water, so 1 nave sat here
for hours like a craven image, and my
two feet fast asleep. I'd have jumped in
long ago before you found me sitting here
like an idol" she concludes vehemently,
''only it looks SO deep down there
AS she finishes he has found a firm
footing among the roots of her tree, and
with a gravity which causes Bess to re-
gard him with suspicion says in a bust
ness like way:
''If you will lean forward a trife 1
will place you on terra firma and we
will 60"
But Miss Fleming has resumed her con-
temptation of the sky, and without glanc-
ing at him says willfully:
Il told you before that l intended to
stay here to see the sunset. You are
evidently in haste; you may go. But be
sure and tell Steenie 1 want him."
Valentines arms fall, his face whitens,
and his voice rings with passionate
anger:
S I may not even touch your hand,
and 1 would give my life for you! You
have nothing but undeserved contempt
for me, and II love you"
He folds his arms upon the tree and
drops his head upon them as if the end
of all things had indeed come.
PnSsiafo ayac ora lno1yS.r Co. -. -.
within them a new, sweet light of self
revelation grows and deepens.
The little clouds are growing gray; the
cool twilight seems to creep closer, with
its soft, cool languor and its blurring
shadows. The wind signs through the
trees in low, sad whispers; the murmur
of the river sounds clear and loud. A
saucy bird, very near, suddenly gives a
shrill, startling cry and Bess stirs unea-
silly, and with her eyes dropped to the
helpless little boots, says, n~ervously, with
an argumentative air:
This out of door life is very healthful,
don't you Think"
AT this apparently irrelevant remark
Valentine raises his head and looks at her
in great amazement.
81 have grown SO very stout and
heavy" she continues bravely, THAT 1
do not think you could lift nae down."
81 am quite willing to try" he says,
with eager sarcasm; and with the color
flushing her sweet face she leans toward
him with outstretched hands.
l cannot tell you anything more, ex-
cept that as they came into camp arm in
ARM, with a new light in their faces,
Halls boots received an especial benedic-
ton; Martha knocked over the coffee pot
in q fit of bewilderment; Car upset
Steenie in the exuberance of his ioy;
while Tom, in an aside, asked: What
will Uncle Ralph say?"-Somerville
Journal.